Improvement in buttons



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD BREUL, 0F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUTTONS.

. Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,042, dated May 6, 1879; application filed January 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD BREUL, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairlield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttons, &c., of which the following is a specification My invention relates to improvements in metallic sleeve-buttons, shirt-studs, drawerpulls, 850., of the class in which theshanks or stems are made separately from the ends, head-disks, or cap-pieces, and the parts then permanently connected together.

.My object is to make a strong and cheap button, 800., of this class; and my improvements consist in apeculiar tubular shank, and in the combination of the shank and the cap or caps secured to the end or ends thereof, as will hereinafter first fully be explained, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the shank; Fig. 2, a central section through the complete button on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, the scale being somewhat less than that towhich the shank is'drawn in the first figure. Figs. 3 and at show modifications.

A tubular flaringended shank, A, is made from a single blank or piece of stock, so as to have the single joint or seam a. The end B is smaller than the end C, the difference in the sizes of the ends being about as usual in shirt-studs and sleeve-buttons. The shank is stamped and swaged to the form shown by suitable tools.

Circular flanged-edge caps, heads, or end pieces D E are secured to the flaring ends of the shank by spinning or turning in their .flanged peripheries around the peripheries of the large and small ends of the shank.

The complete button is plainly shown in the magnified view, Fig. 2, of the drawings, by which it will be seen that the connection between either head or cap piece and the flaring end of the shank is directly made by turning and clamping the edge'of the head upon the shank end. I

From the above description it will be seen that I make the complete button from three pieces, that the heads are securely braced by the flaring ends-of the shank, and that no soldering of the parts is required.

therefore,

I am aware that a longitudinally-divided tubular shank or stem for buttons, &c., has heretofore been made of two equal longitudinal sections. Such a shank, however; necessarily required two separate operations to produce it; and, moreover, there were other diffieulties to be overcome in producing buttons with such shanks, such as holding the sections in proper relative positions and attaching the button ends or heads. I do not, claim a two-part shank.

Instead of securing the plain metallic end pieces or caps at both flaring ends of the button-shanks, the cap may be omitted from one end of a button-shank and an ornamental stone, gold disk, 850., be suitably secured in or to the remaining'flaring shank end-at the smaller end if designed for a shirt-stud or collar-button, and at the larger end-if for a cuffbutton. I

As shown by Figs. 3 and 4;, the peculiar stud or button may obviously beadapted to use as a drawer-pull or knob for small doors, lids, &c., by the addition of a screw, 1). To attach this screw it is only necessary to provide openings in the caps or end pieces (or an opening in the single cap when one only is used) in line with the opening through the shank A and fit in the screw, by which to secure the stud or knob in place.

In Fig. 4 a base-piece having; a socket to receive the end B of the shank A isemployed in lieu of the disk or end piece D. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) It will thus be seen that, whether to be used as a knob'or drawer-pull or as a button, the construction of the device up to the point of attaching. the screw is the same. V

The peculiar shank A B C is' always completed in all respects (both ends flared) before securing the remaining parts, and it thus differs from any other device of the same general kind of which I have knowledge, not only because of its being made in one piece having the seam a, but also because of its adaptability to use for the several analogous purposes, and in the manner above setforth.

I claim as of my own invention 1. The hereinbefbre-described one-part tubular shank for buttons, 850., formed with the single joint or seam a, and with theoutwardlyflaring ends B C of different sizes, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A button, &o., having the tubular shank A, with ends B C of different sizes, both formed with an outward flare, and the head or cap piece secured to the previously and permanentlyfla-red sha-nk end, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the tubular flaringended shank A B O, (the ends being of different sizes,) made from a single piece of sheet metal, and the end pieces or caps D E, these parts being constructed and united substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

4. The hereinbefore-described button, consisting of the tubular shank A, with flared ends B G of diflerent sizes, made in a single piece, and having the seam a, and the end pieces or caps D E, secured to the previouslyflared ends of the shank by spinning, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

RICHARD BREUL.

Witnesses:

DANL. W. JONES, A. 0. J. SMITH. 

